Kawasaki ATV Eaten by Mice - No Spark, No Crank - Will it Run Again? - Part 1
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- I recently horse traded for this Kawasaki Bayou 220. It was badly eaten by mice and has no spark and the starter won't work. It's also been sitting outside for almost a year. Can we bring it back to life?
Part 2: • Kawasaki ATV Eaten by ...
"Dial back the sketchiness" I've never heard it verbalized that way before but well said Wes. We have probably all taken short cuts and temporary connections in the interest of seeing if it will run. Great job of showing it like it is.
Well I got stung this time.
Wes...Proper diagnosis and repair...With fire, smoke and humor...You are awesome! You may not have an ultrasonic cleaner...But I have never fallen asleep during any of your videos...haha!!! Looking forward to part 2. Thanks for the great content!
I will never understand mice, I wired locomotives for a living so lots of wires and schematics are pretty everyday for me. The other day my neighbor came to me and ask if I could look at his washing machine as it had just quit. I said yep grabbed a screwiedriverz and walked to his house where I removed the back from the machine (after checking with a voltmeter that the outlet had power) and was greeted by ........... empty. Little bit**** didnt chew a wire or three they ate connectors, wiring and killed one of their pack when they touched both terminals of the starting capacitor for the agitate motor, dude they ate everything, how and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Took me a couple of hours and a spool of wire to rewire it.
This was an awesome repair you did here, thanks for sharing and the video!!!
Wes when those jumper cables went to gather my arm jerk was trying to reach to grab them,lmao at myself.
Thanks again for your video 👍
It seemed like an eternity when it happened, but seeing it on video it was just a second or two. Still enough time to melt my cables!
No joke. My first thought was earlier in the video. "He should secure that positive cable down." I just knew it would move once he started it.
Yeah, as soon as he hooked them up I was thinking of a zip tie to keep them in place, they're constantly laying on something you don't want them to. There was a point when the pliers was sliding down, I figured that would be the "SPARKS!" moment.
Yeah I was hey hey lol
I was seeing a little smoke, but thats NOT from the engine..oh crap!
The damage that mice can do to equipment is unbelievable. I enjoy watching all the methodology you go thru to find and fix the issues. Great video Wes 👍
Good to see you have some free fun. I love trouble shooting freebies. I have a very nice 17.5 hp Craftsman 42 in lawn tractor. It just wouldn't start. The engine has a compression release that is actuated a low rpm of the cam shaft. The valve lash must be set correctly or it doesn't release the compression so the starter can barely turn the engine. Sucks all battery pretty quick and no start. Set the valves starts right up run like a new engine it's a briggs and stratton. Wasn't charging the battery. Had to solder a wire. Everything works great and other than a new battery I bought for it. It was free. I can't help but smile when I'm mowing my lawn. Have a great day Wess.
I love it. I grew up in a family business. We wheel and deal all the time. My dad, my grandad, my grand uncle and my cousin. sh*t flew everywhere. cars, tucks. tools. A few times egos got bruised, but we never got in fights etc. That was all over 45 years ago. I was just talking to my cousin tonight as a matter of fact about the old days and all the family long gone.
Love those bikes. Got mine in boxes when I was 15, some assembly required. Dad said here, it's yours if you can figure it out. They are wonderfully tough and simple, with just enough modern amenities.
The 220s have a spool in the rear. The 300 had a locking rear diff.
It's hard to tell from the video, but that one sounds a little low on compression. Check the valves, if they eat a little dirt the intake will recede into the head and get tight. They should have enough compression to be next to impossible to pull start without tripping the decomp, which is on the right side of the head.
When you clean those carbs it's very important to pull the idle needle out of the bottom of the carb, in addition to the pilot jet. If you have idle issues that is almost surely the cause.
I would imagine the valves are pretty crusty. It sat outside for a year before I started messing with it.
I would love to have one but here in Germany these things are crazy expensive
Got to love that little giggle when the engine fires. Seems like everybody on UA-cam has at same type of giggle.
Yes they do. My wife asked me why.
Ordered a new starter relay that still hasn't arrived. Added a jumper from black to black ,& sure enough it cranks right up. Thanks for the vid. It's definitely the best step by step vid I've ever seen on UA-cam.
Ahhhh!! The ole free 4 wheeler will consume many hours of your life repairing but in exchange will reward you by freezing your ever luvin nutz off while riding it during the winter! Excellent work!!
Sounds right!
Great stuff, Wes. Really looking forward to part two !
Maybe tomorrow if I get ambitious.
Your videos have been a life saver during this lock down period. It's preserving my sanity.
That quad is from 96-2005 if I'm not mistaken. It's hard not being there in person to see for myself.
I was thinking mid 90s.
Those old Bayou's are great. We run three 250's and one 220 like yours. Pre oiled No-Toil air filters twice a season and oil & filter once a season. Every other season at least one we have to clean a carburetor. That is about all the maintenance we have to do. They just run and run. Have fun with it, we sure do. Our 220 is a 1993.
Thanks for the videos.
That sounds about right, mid 90s.
I've got two 250 Bayous 2005 any maintenance tips?
There's an oil screen in the engine, do you ever clean that?
You dont have no boundaries to work on any mechanic stuff you work from something little to something big and that makes you who you are ...awesome ..like you're videos..
A fun video, especially the battery issue that nearly ruined a good set of jumper cables. Looking forward to part 2 !
Not nearly...
Nice start up and letting all that smoke out. Then the cable fell and the smoke really got loose. LOL
You can figure out more crap and fix stuff that is unfixable. Congrats on having a good 4 wheeler. . . well it will be.
As I have said many times, 'Ain't nothin ole Wes can't get to run'. Thanks for proving me right once again.
Thanks for sharing
Well I get there in my own roundabout way...
You certainly have more patients than me, Wes. I would have resorted to the gun powder fix long ago. I always love your trouble shooting skills and enjoy how you rectify each problem as you come to them. Great video, thumbs up.
The gun powder may have been the right call!
Thanks for another great video. I’m glad I’m not the only one that generates smoke from places that shouldn’t smoke👍
Happens to me all the time!
Ah, yes. It's the "magic smoke" so well known to electronics workers!!!
good work wes i love your enthusiasm for the craziness of machanics keep it up remember if if ends up not working it can always turn into a shooting target
Everyone needs something to hold their boat in place...
I know you hate the electrical stuff, but you are good at figuring it out, explaining it and correcting it. Thanks, it helps
I actually like electrical repairs.
Nice way to enjoy a Saturday in isolation, thank you Wes.
The knife for cutting shingles works so well for cables... because the business end looks identical to my cable stripper knife. Gargler "rs pro wire stripper 136-6980".
Looks pretty close. You can get the utility knife blades for less than $1 each at a decent hardware store.
Great job describing those electrical issues, it all looked so clear.
Glad you think so!
Oh noes! You jumped black wires with a red wire! Electrons will get confused!
Great video, Wes. Glad to see it run.
Thanks Wes I really look forward to and enjoy your films. Great job.
It's alive!! Kudo's to you! Extra bonus point for mentioning Mustie1.
And a Eric O quote too. Great stuff all 3 of these guys. Wes, Eric and Darren.
[Chanting] All Hail Mustie1! All Hail Mustie1! ROFL! I'm a fan of Darren's also. Keep up the great work!
The mice couldn't ruin the loom so let's short the jumper cables to finish it off! That was priceless, great work again and all the best.
I only destroyed my cables...
Thanks for the great content. You demonstrate that with a bit of logic, and wiring diagram, a person can fix anything. Oh, and experience, lots of experience...
You could do it without the diagram, but it would add many hours to the job. Many hours...
A seam ripper works good for cutting sheath without damaging the wire too!
we just bought one of these 220 and it also has some bad wiring .. im glad i found your site here.
Inside the actual starter relay in the plug is a fuse those blow easy on it
Great job in getting the quad to fire and run , looks a great project to enjoy around the yard once all the [ mice ] have been found , the electrical connections connect . great video enjoyed the electrical explanations keep up the good work
You saved me with this video I had almost the same identical problem with mine got it working again and my kids are loving it thanks for sharing
I learn so much on the electrical diagnostic jobs...THANKS
👍Schematic lessons are always helpful to me. Thanks
I just brought a 96 bayou 220 back from the dead. It was plagued with many similar electrical issues...I still can't get the starter switch to engage, but I'm going to try a couple of the things you tried and see what happens. Thanks for the video...wish I would have watched it about 500 man hours ago! lol.
You get all the best jobs. ive commented that before 😀. Inherited as it is, you live in the right place when it runs to be good fun. Although theyre not fast ,more of a commercial hauler type quad. Ihave massive experience fixing those. 99.9 % of all electric faults are at the headstock due to constant moving. Make sure of routing at each lock mate. Hard starting and rough running will almost certainly be closed inlet valve rocker. ( No clearance) . It has a tiny square drive to adjust. They say you need special tool but you'll manage without.GREAT STUFF WES THSNK YOU😀👍
Yeah I need to set the valve.
@@WatchWesWork I have a manual somewhere if u can't find clearance specs. I should b remembering them but it's an age thing I think
I’ve got two bayou 300 in my shop. Total fuel service on both. Relays were totally rusted. I got lucky and rebuilt the start switch on the left side handle bar. The oldest bayou I have here is a 1986. Yours is older than that, if I’m not mistaken. The new aftermarket switches have six wires instead of four.
Dear Mr. Wes.
👍👌👏 Very well done again and as always! Last time dealing with a lawn mower garden tractor, this time with motorbike quart stuff and rodents! You really seem to mutate into a Westie1! ;-) :-)
Thanks a lot for making teaching recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health to all of you.
Postscriptum: Caution! These things can make a lot of fun and therefore cause addiction! ;-) :-)
I know. Next I'll be using a body hammer for everything!
@@WatchWesWork
There are much worse things in the world than using a body hammer for everything. If I remember correctly great Scott from Coldwarmotors (or is it great Johnathan W.?) uses a hammer of this kind for every purpose also. So to be in an illustrious society with these great guys can't be bad at all. Don't you think so? By the way: I like the nickname Westie1. WWW is already occupied/known from world wide web. ;-) :-)
All you need now is an ultrasonic cleaner! A friend of Mustie1 = 5150mxVW has already also one (smaller model but same brand). Seriously: Those machines are really helpful tools.
those mice are tough! sometimes it is refreshing to get some of these simple projects....makes the hard ones more exciting! im betting pin fitment is going to be a continuous problem.
It will be. You'll see that in part 2...
Am thinking your need a bigger shop if you keep these monster rigs 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Quality thinking and patience to get it going shame about shorting it out 😥😥. Thanks so much for sharing really cheers me up 👏👏🇬🇧
Just a minor electrical fire! No worries!
HEY!!! I commend you!!!! Your knowledge of wiring and the systems of a machine's working is impressive... Best i've seen... H
It's just electricity. No big deal.
Can't wait for part 2!
Maybe tomorrow. It's "in the can".
The chaotic ending was perfect for this old bucket. Look forward to seeing it run and drive
Eating that battery would have been like eating a bag of Salt and Vinegar chips for the mice.
Nice diagnostic skills Wes !
Another case of rat scratch fever . . . where's Nugent?
I love Wurth’s Kontact OL for cleaning contacts etc. Really good stuff if you have iffy connections. Deoxit is not bad either. I was expecting a small conflagration toward the end!
I've used Deoxit. I have some CRC contact cleaner that works OK. They are all just alcohol.
Having bayou wiring nightmares all over again. I've got 2, 300 bayou's, similar electrical systems. Bought them both with similar wiring issues to this one.
Need to make sure the stator and regulator plugs are clean and tight, or they'll melt wires, burn out the regulator, overcharge and burn out ignition module... fun times.
Hmm. That sounds bad!
I need 2 buy a 300 4x4
I would have never thought about bypassing the safety relay. Now my electric start works! Thanks
Nice to watch a "will it run" without the opening clip of it actually running. Nice job as always!
Maybe "Dial back the sketchiness" mugs?
I'll look into it.
Can't wait for part 2 Wes. Loving your videos mate.
Coming soon!
Looks to about a 1995 as I owned one from new for 15 years. Stepped up to a Yamaha Grizzly 550. I still have access to the manual if you need something. By the way it’s a posi rear end no differential
OK. That's what I was thinking too, mid 90s.
Wes: I had a similar machine that had similar issues, but not as bad. Mine would not run right until I put the air box and filters back on it. Also had a completely different carb. Thanks for great video's.
Interesting. I thought all Japanese bikes had some version of a Mikuni slide carb.
@@WatchWesWork It may not have been an original, got the 4 wheeler from a guy that owed me money for fixing a riding mower. It had a large vacuum diaphragm on it that was leaking. I finally sold it to a guy that had several machines for him, his wife and kids. I will try to connect with him and see what happened to it. Many thanks.
Cracking video Wes. I think everyone watching was shouting at you when the jump leads started to touch!
Luckily it didn't hurt much.
That 4-wheeler looked rough as a cob. I’m a Honda guy also. I would LOVE to see you do a restore on an older Honda foreman. I like all atv repair. Good job wes 👍🏼
The problem with Hondas is they are actually good, so they cost a lot more used.
Watch Wes Work yes but I lucked up on one recently that is in pretty good shape except it stops shifting occasionally. I paid $350 for it, it’s a project right now but worth it. It’s an electric shift with all shifting things changed. Angle sensor, shifting motor and new shifting switch on handle bars. It’s somewhere in the wires I believe. I have looked al over UA-cam but very little good quality Honda foreman 450 videos of repair.
“Dial back the sketchiness”, lol
But just a little.
Nice job Mr Dub.
You got it to go.
Now we're waiting
For the rest of the show.
Thanks for the fun! :-)
Maybe tomorrow.
Awesome vidjayo once again. Thanks for the great content... I wish you had enough "work" for vids every other day, but despite what the world thinks, i know the editing can take days... please keep it up. Love to you and your family.
It's not just the editing. It has to be the right kind of project to make a video. Most work is pretty boring and mundane. I try to save the more interesting things for the videos.
Keep that bad machine around Wes and sooner than you think that boy of yours will be spinning donuts outside your garage and you will grin ear to ear. Great video sir. Thinking back on my shade tree mechanic adventures I abhorred anything electrical.........hated it. Good job Wes.
He wanted a ride today. He loves it!
3:00 OKAY. YOU TALKED ME INTO IT. I'LL TAKE IT!!
Well ... as usual it again was a pleasure to watch you work Wes🛠 stay safe man and thanks.👍
Thanks, you too!
Awesome work Wes. The diagnostics is fun to watch. Who’s test light is that. Allot of them now are junk...also that price probe?
Jim
The test light is by OTC. They are now made in Taiwan I think, but I like it. The probes are Pamona.
Watch Wes Work Thanks. Ordered the test light. Mine sucks. On the Pamona what would you call it? Does not come up on search.
Thank you in advance for your help jim
Hi, Mrs Wes Yea!!! Thanks Wes great stuff.
Was gots a new toy!! I love that you resurrected it, just so cool to have something to do while on "lockdown"!!
Nice video as always. Been there,done that. I would cut out every connector on that harness or they will haunt you. I think you can get that thing turned around and have some fun with it. Thank you another video! A mouse riddled thumbs up!
Yeah, the connectors are not sealed and it's just a matter of time.
Another great vid Wes!!!! THANKS for a few good laughs !!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
I had to watch the part where the cables touched 3 times over. "Oh shit! Haha!" Thanks for the content!
Glad I can entertain!
I have a 1988 Bayou 220. That thing always fires up but it does have its electrical issues (won’t keep a charge). They are decent little machines.
I love to troubleshoot such things. And when you have the wiring schematic diagram, it becomes an inspector's who done it game... But I would have to make it exactly like factory wiring everything back again in every way so if there is any other issues, you can again rely on the factory wiring diagram again... Thumbs Up!
Hmm. Well we are going to go back pretty close to factory. As close as practical.
Love the reference to the Mustie 1 ultrasonic carb cleaner, also compulsive UA-cam viewing!
Man the bayou!!! That thing was the machine to have once upon a time!
The Hook utility blades used for roofing I agree Work great for cutting Sheething on Wore harnesses so does a Sawing thread Cutter as well @Watch Wes Work
We had a neighbor kid trespass onto our family farm in upstate NY with one of those in (I think 2008). He got it stuck near our beaver pond in a swampy area and left it there with a note that he'd be back to come get it out. It sat there the remainder of the summer, fall and winter. In Spring the kid graduated High School and joined the Navy. We used our excavator to help him get it out..might have -accidentally dropped- handling dents & dings on it few times and I seem to recall the tank had a -bullet hole- slight leak in it too.. You're welcome to it for parts Wes.
LOL. I think you should get it going!
@@WatchWesWork Sure, I could do something crazy like start a UA-cam channel repairing all the wrecks in a secret undisclosed location on the family farm. "Watch Warren's Wrecks" we'll call it. ;-)
Oh man, when those cables touched I cringed. I was feeling better about it when you pulled them apart until i saw that old magical blue smoke escaping... can't ever put that smoke back in :(
Other than that, great new content, man! Keep it up! You should take on more lost causes and work that magic you work so well.
Yeah, it was not a good day for those cables.
Yep. Most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers do that sort of wire splicing on there bike looms. Fun isnt it. Like you 'tool' for getting the connectors out. Be pleased to see part 2.
Man that is sketchy!
Just a comment on your cub cadet I don't know much about cadets I used to sell john deere back when yours was new . The biggest mistake nearly all owners do is use the wheels on the deck to set the mowing height when they are antiscalp wheels which means the deck should be leveled and carried . It also does a better job of mowing and saves the cost of replacing the deck wheels every couple years
I got a Onan 4kw RV generator kinda the same condition, I really don't need it, I just want it and I have had a lot of fun solving its issues, So far So good. I hope you enjoyed the Side 4 Wheeler job, they can be a lot of fun.
Well done I especially like the excitement at the end. Acids are sour at least the organic ones I try not to taste inorganic acids.
We'll have to ask the mice how it tastes!
Mice both unaffected by sour and also unaffected by hot spices and pepper, will happily eat the hottest peppers, even when you put it side-by-side with regular food
Quite a story of the machine. Your electrical trouble shooting skills are outstanding.
thanks buddy...you got me lookin in the right spots....there was a battery tender that got hot melted them wire together...fired right up
And I thought my Dad was the only one who pays with abandoned vehicles and/or equipment. It's good to know you get shafted too. 👍👍🇦🇺
He didn't get "Stafted", because he figured out what was wrong and has the machine that will run well after a little bit of work.
I'm used to it by now!
I take a screwdriver and put the plastic handle up against the carburetor bowl and tap the drivers tip a few times and that normally gets the needle valve and the float to break free. Usually that fixes it unless the cap isn't venting or fuel line is blocked/ vapor locked.
Hello, Wes :) Excellent video as always. You mentioned that you don't particularly like soldering wires/components (that its somewhat of a pain). I agree, I find that the problem usually is due to lack of a good catalyst (flux). If this is case for you, my I suggest a great LIQUID flux (the consistency of water) that you apply with a small brush. KESTER 979 is the product name. Look them up. Last time I checked the min. that you could buy was a gallon priced around 30-40$ That would last you forever! You can also get a 2oz. bottle on Amazon for 10$. Anyhow just a little FYI that might help in the soldering process. Once again thks for the Great Videos and have fun riding:) Bless you and your family be safe:)
It's more an issue of access. I'm always working down in some tight space.
Roger Roger, understood
I loved the maniacal 'Mustie1' laugh when it first fired off :)
Man Wes. You must have super mice where you live. I have never seen a battery like that here Wow ! Me trying to get the battery cable jerked apart, no luck Lol. Great job on the troubleshooting and repairs. Can't wait for the next video. Liked,shared. All my best.
Right. Super mice!
Nice work! The wiring diagnostic section was well laid out. Can you share information on the wire piercing / probe tool? Thanks,
Wa who and it’s a blue bayou ! Dang things are fun , I bought a new Honda and love it ! Your going to want another one so you and your wife can ride.together ! I’m planning a 300 mile trail ride , camping along the way for this summer !
I'm already looking for more!
Watch Wes Work I kinda thought you would ! Lol.
Great video. I love watching you work on different machines.
Glad you like them!
Seamstress seam rippers are also good for cutting open wire harness wrappings.
The trade up tale is half the fun. Cheers
Nice vid man. These bikes where known to valve tick an have carb problems. Every bayou ive come across had some type of carb resplacmemt or issues. The factory jets wore out fast on these as well
It's a Mikuni carb. They are OK when they work, which isn't that often. But all the Japanese builders used them.
@@WatchWesWork true. Im having a hell of a time with this 4occ baja 4 wheeler. No matter what carb or no matter what settings i put the needle or he air fuel mixture at it will rev out everytime i can see the slide moving but it still just goes right to redlineing everytime. Wht do you think it is ive tried 3 different carbs im thinking vacumme leak tbh
Wes...”Dial back the sketchiness” should be WWW merch ASAP.
that's it! you have to sell us a t-shirt that says Watch Wes Work and a hand on a dial with "Dial Back the Sketchiness" underneath. all 1950's-garage like.
we had a 1988 Kawasaki 300 Bayou which is basically the same but it had a differential lock that i'm sure wasn't actually hooked to anything. i got that thing stuck almost every time i drove it. good old one wheel drive.
LOL. I'll see what I can do!
The joys of keeping machinery inside a barn or garage
Also the rectifier should be OK I have pulled old quads out of a dump and got them running with rectifier looking a lot worse than that
Spoiler, it seems to work.
Hey Wes. Did a polaris like that. Wire harness fire, fun stuff...
Ouch!
I hade the same wierd issue with a connector once. Suddenly it just started working. Looked at it with a magnifying glass and believe I figured it out. Probably it was so corroded inside, and each time I measured it with the probe I scraped some of the corrosion away, until I got contact. There was power all the time in it...
How big are those north American mice, they must ride horses?, Crazy damage, never seen rodent damage to a battery before?.
Great vlog Wes, hope the smell wasn't too bad, best regards from the UK.
Thanks for sharing and stay safe all.
We get what are called "field mice" or Voles. They are quite ferocious!
The hand over the carb intake while cranking has saved my ass soo many times!
Sometimes that's the only way to get them going.
Klunk - "I wonder what that was" - This is how all my mechanical repairs go.
Mine too!